Harris Central Appraisal District Board of Directors met July 22

Harris Central Appraisal District Board of Directors met July 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

A special meeting of the Harris Central Board of Directors was held Monday, July 22nd, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the HCAD offices.

Chairman Martina Lemond Dixon called the meeting to order at 9:31 a.m. and led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the Texas Flag.

Roll Call. The presence of a quorum was established. Chairman Martina Lemond Dixon, Cassandra Auzenne Bandy, Jonathan Cowen, Jim Robinson, Kyle Scott and Ericka McCrutcheon were present. Mike Sullivan, Grace Rodriguez, Ann Harris Bennett and Kathy Blueford-Daniels were absent.

Chief Appraiser Roland Altinger and Jim Robinson of Olson and Olson, legal counsel, were also in attendance.

Comments from Members of the Public. Property owner Phillip Glass addressed the board.

Due to statutory notice requirements and per legal counsel, agenda items 5, 7 and 10 regarding the proposed reappraisal plan and agenda items 6, 8, and 11 regarding the proposed 2025 budget were tabled and moved to the Board’s regular August meeting.

Presentation of Proposed 2025-2026 Reappraisal Plan. Moved to the August regular meeting. Presentation of Proposed 2025 Budget. Moved to the August regular meeting. Public Hearing on Proposed 2025-2026 Reappraisal Plan. Moved to the August regular meeting. Public Hearing on Proposed 2025 Budget. Moved to the August regular meeting. Consent Agenda

“All matters listed under consent agenda are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion, there will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.”

Mr. Cowen, seconded by Mr. Robinson, moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried with Mr. Scott abstaining.

a. Approval of Minutes. Reviewing and approving the minutes of the special meeting(s) of June 26, 2024.

Resolution 2024-06 Approving & Adopting 2025-2026 Reappraisal Plan. Moved to the August regular meeting.

Resolution 2024-07 Approving & Adopting 2025 Budget. Moved to the August regular meeting.

Boardroom Remodel RFP. At the request of Chairman Lemond Dixon this agenda item was tabled until after Executive Session.

ARB Appointment Committee. Ms. McCrutcheon, seconded by Mr. Scott, moved to create an ARB Appointment Committee to develop policies and procedures that will be utilized by the Board of Directors in appointing members to the ARB Chairperson and ARB Secretary. The motion carried unanimously.

Committee Appointments. Chairman Lemond Dixon appointed the following board members to the standing committees listed below:

Employee Benefits Committee (Insurance):

Mike Sullivan – Chair

Kyle Scott

Kathy Blueford-Daniels

Ann Harris Bennett

Audit Committee:

Jonathan Cowen – Chair

Grace Rodriguez

Cassandra Auzenne Bandy

Ann Harris Bennett

Evaluation Committee:

Cassandra Auzenne Bandy – Chair

Mike Sullivan

Jonathan Cowen

Jim Robinson

Ericka McCrutcheon

ARB Appointment Committee:

Kathy Blueford -Daniels – Chair

Kyle Scott – Secretary

Ericka McCrutcheon

Jim Robinson

Martina Lemond Dixon

Public Relations Award. Jack Barnett, chief communications officer, reported on the district’s winning a Silver Excalibur Award from the Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter for creating the step-by-step video showing property owners how to fill out the online homestead exemption application.

Protests and Hearings. Jeff Morrison, Chief of Hearings, reported on protests and hearings, including iFile and iSettle. For the 2024 tax year, 507,061 protests have been received with the vast majority of them being filed electronically. Settlement options have been extremely productive with over 325k protests already settled.

Taxpayer Liaison Officer Report. Teresa Terry, Taxpayer Liaison Officer, provided a verbal report to the board. A written report was also provided in the board packet.

Appraisal Review Board Report. ARB Secretary, Kevin Stone, reported on the progress of hearings, attendance by members of the appraisal review board at hearings, and activities of the executive staff and the board’s attorney.

Appraisal Matters. There were none.

Executive Session. Chairman Lemond Dixon called the board into executive session at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of: (a) private consultation with the board’s attorney regarding (i) pending and potential litigation, (ii) settlement of pending appeals to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, (iii) settlement of pending arbitrations under Texas Tax Code Chapter 41A, and (iv) settlement of pending litigation under Texas Tax Code Chapter 42; (b) considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public

officer, or employee, including the duties and appointment of the chief appraiser; (c) considering the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices; (d) deliberating the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, as permitted by the Open Meetings Act, Chap. 551, Government Code.

Chairman Lemond Dixon opened the meeting at 10:32 a.m.

Roll Call. Board members Jim Robinson, Cassandra Auzenne Bandy, Jonathan Cowen, Kyle Scott and Ericka McCrutcheon were present. Mike Sullivan, Grace Rodriguez, Ann Harris Bennett and Kathy Blueford-Daniels were absent.

Boardroom Remodel RFP. At the request of Chairman Lemond Dixon this agenda item was tabled until after Executive Session. Mr. Cowen, seconded by Ms. Auzenne Bandy, made a motion to approve the preliminary estimates for boardroom modernization and authorize publication of the request for bids. After voicing several concerns by all board members present, a roll call vote was taken. The motion passed with Mr. Scott opposing and Ms. McCrutcheon abstaining.

Appeals under Sec. 42.02, Tax Code. There were none.

Corrections under 25.25(b). The quarterly report of corrections was made available upon request by any board members who wanted to inspect it.

Adjournment. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 10:42 a.m.

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